KENNEWICK -- The developments under construction in the area of Highway 395 and 27th Avenue cost more than 24 million dollars. The entire Canyon Lakes and Southridge area is in the middle of a growth spurt. Gordon Benningfield bought the land for his Canyon Lakes home only four years ago, and he says there wasn't much there at the time.

"Over by Wal-Mart all there was was farm land in fact Wal-Mart wasn't there at the time," said Benningfield

But, now it seems almost anywhere you turn, a building is going up, or land is for sale.

"I'm amazed at the growth in this town, it's like it's come alive," said contractor Rick Johnson.

Johnson works for Pennon Construction. He helped build the Walgreens and Starbucks shopping center. Now, he's working on a Petco near Home Depot. That's just one of a number of projects a hotel off Highway 395 is nearly complete and so is a strip mall. Kennewick economic development director, Ken Nelson says business development is only part of the picture. There are more than 1,900 home lots in the area already under construction or waiting for development.

"The estimates are that 60% of Kennewick's growth will occur in the Southridge area. Things are really exploding," said Nelson.

Benningfield thought now is the perfect time to sell his home. He believes all the development will increase his property value.

"Well I'm hoping so that's why I put it on the market," said Benningfield.

The city of Kennewick says it's also working with a developer out of Vancouver to build a business and residential development near Southridge High School.